Long: Dingwell 'still on team'

San Diego State quarterback Adam Dingwell drops back to pass against Ohio State during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

/ AP

San Diego State quarterback Adam Dingwell drops back to pass against Ohio State during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

San Diego State quarterback Adam Dingwell drops back to pass against Ohio State during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (/ AP)

A year ago, Adam Dingwell came off the bench to lead a dramatic comeback win over Nevada. On Saturday – five games removed from losing his job as the starting quarterback after his fifth interception in five quarters – the 6-foot-4 junior was nowhere to be seen at Qualcomm Stadium.

At least not on the field.

Off the depth chart for the first time this season, Dingwell watched at least the first half of a 35-28 overtime loss to No. 17 Fresno State from behind the east end zone – in the stands

Although Dingwell practiced this week despite a back injury that stems back to his high school days at Rockwell, Texas, Aztecs coach Rocky Long declined to elaborate on Dingwell’s status as a spectator in the stands.

Unusual?

“Yeah it is,” Long said.

He added: “He’s still on the team. He practiced Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Approached for comment at the half in the east end zone stands, Dingwell said he’d discuss his status after a trip to the restroom but did not return to his seat early in the third quarter.

After leading that comeback win last October over Nevada, Dingwell was 4-1 as a starter last year, his only loss a five-turnover game – including three interceptions – against BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl to end the year.

Then Dingwell opened the 2013 season with four interceptions in a 40-19 loss to Eastern Illinois, threw another pick within his first five attempts at Ohio State and was removed from that game due to his balking back, Long said then.

Dingwell – who was 27-for-63 for 318 yards and no touchdowns – had been listed as the No. 2 quarterback every week until Saturday.

In his place, senior Jake Bernards and sophomore Chad Jeffries were listed as back-ups in Dingwell’s place. Bernards, the holder, hasn’t played a game at quarterback since 2010 and Jeffries has yet to see the field.

More kicking issues

Although sophomore Seamus McMorrow converted four extra-point attempts, his 40-yard miss on the Aztecs’ third drive of the game couldn’t have inspired much confidence in San Diego State’s kicking game.

Neither could a blocked field goal – on a low kick – from 37 yards out as time expired in the fourth quarter.

“These are not pro players,” Long said. “We’re not going to cut them. We’re not going to get somebody off the wires or try to hire somebody else. They are young people who make mistakes and they’ll get better. … You run them back out there and keep working with them and hope next time he has a chance to make a kick to win the game he will.”

The Aztecs entered last week’s bye with something of a kicking controversy after senior Wes Feer missed three field goals and two extra points after starting the year 8-for-8 on field goals. McMorrow had also missed one of his two extra-point attempts after replacing Feer at place-kicker against Air Force.

Both Feer and McMorrow competed head-to-head in practice the last two weeks to determine who would kick Saturday night.

After McMorrow’s first-quarter miss, the Aztecs opted to go for it on fourth-and-5 on the Bulldogs’ 27 in the second quarter over sending a kicker out for a 44-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 28, Adam Muema converted a fourth-and-1 run on the Bulldogs’ 27 before SDSU ran three more running plays to push the offense to the 20 for a closer look at a game-winning kick.

Muema also scored on a rushes of 10 and 1 yards, the latter giving the Aztecs a 14-7 lead with 5:45 left in the third quarter and moving him into sixth all-time at SDSU with 24 career rushing touchdowns. His 26 overall career touchdowns rank fifth all-time.